In honour of Women’s History Month, The Muslim News interviewed 26-year-old Sudanese climate activist Nisreen Elsaim, chair of the UN Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. Elsaim discussed her path to climate activism, the organisations she founded, and the challenges she has faced trying to address climate issues on the world stage.
Nisreen Elsaim dreamed of being a scientist and obtained her undergraduate degree in physics from the University of Khartoum. During that time, Sudan faced immense political unrest under Omar al-Bashir. Student protestors faced harassment from security forces who violently infiltrated school grounds. Elsaim describes how one student was killed and another sustained serious injuries after being flung from a third-floor balcony. “It was like something out of a horror movie,” she said. After the incident, her university was closed indefinitely.
Realising the power of politicians, Elsaim considered linking science and politics to make a change. She searched the topic online and discovered the field of science diplomacy, advancing scientific objectives through diplomacy, and using science to further diplomatic objectives. She found that climate change and water issues were the two most prominently discussed topics under the purview of science diplomacy, and she concluded that climate change was more aligned with her studies.
She began volunteering at the Sudanese Environment Conservation Society, where she eventually established a youth committee. In 2017, she co-founded the Sudan Youth Organisation for Climate Change (SYOCC), which is “training and qualifying young people to sensitise their communities and help increase the resilience of these communities to climate change.” Sudan has been ranked among the top ten countries most vulnerable to climate change.
After the revolution, Elsaim saw a host of organisations register and become active. However, few had a sustainability focus and were instead more geared towards promoting democracy and strengthening the rule of law. Elsaim agrees that such political issues are critical but is frustrated by what she sees as donors deciding the country’s priorities. Still, Elsaim has continued to focus on raising awareness about Sudan’s vulnerability to climate change.
The livelihoods of many Sudanese are based on traditional agricultural and pastoral practices. Despite changing rainfall patterns pushing traditional farmers into cities, Elsaim has found it difficult to persuade residents to care about climate change. Sudan grapples with desertification, drought, and dust storms, which affect crop yields, trade, and travel.
The consequences of climate change on society are also apparent. Agricultural workers have moved to cities, increasing poverty. Elsaim claims, “Now everyone wants to work in an office because everything outside an office is not controllable because of climate change.” She still has a challenging time getting her fellow citizens to appreciate the importance of sustainability and climate mitigation and adaptation measures.
She works with local community leaders to raise awareness of climate change and tries to get young people involved in climate decision-making. Elsaim believes in engaging young people because they are the ones who will suffer climate change’s greatest effects.
Elsaim’s work drew the attention of prominent climate activists, and she was invited to speak at panel discussions on climate change in vulnerable nations. However, she says, “Unfortunately, they still don’t take our advice seriously,” adding that she often missed schoolwork to attend events.
Elsaim was nominated to chair the UN Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change in 2020, a volunteer opportunity that has afforded her the chance to speak directly to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whom she admires for his physics background.
Despite her prominent role in high-level climate negotiations, she claims that,she has not been accommodated as a new mother. While she understands the policies prohibiting organisations from purchasing travel for delegates’ family members, she believes these regulations should exclude infants who are still nursing.
Her eight-month-old baby has been denied a travel visa multiple times, making it difficult for her to contribute her valuable perspective to climate conferences..
While Nisreen Elsaim makes the life of a climate activist seem less glamorous than one might assume, she still seeks to inspire young people, especially girls, to continue the work, stating, “My advice would be to take the right decision, even if it’s hard.” She believes that doing the work for money and fame takes away from the goal of climate activism.
(Photo credit: Musab Basher)
Sarah Sakeena Marshall,
American University School of Intl Service,
The Muslim News Environmental Columnist
